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762 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. CHAPTER XXX. SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP Was organized March 5, 1816. Its population in 1870 was 1,593. The following is the list of officers of the township as appears upon the official record: 1847. Trustees—James Dorland, John Scott, John S, Brown; Clerk—S. B. Johnson; Treasurer—James Creswill. 1848. Trustees—J. S. Brown, John Scott, John Firestone; Clerk—S. B. Johnston; Treasurer—James Creswill; Assessor—Peter Franks. 1849. Trustees—J. S. Brown, John Firestone, Jacob Halfhill; Clerk—Isaiah McDonald ; Treasurer—John S. Smith; Assessor—S. B. Johnston. 1850. Trustees—Jacob Halfhill, Moses Kelley, James Crosby; Clerk—A. B. Cosper ; Treasurer—John S. Smith; Assessor—S. B. Johnston. 1851. Trustees—James Crosby, Jacob Halfhill, James Hutchison, Clerk—S. B. Johnston; Treasurer—Moses Kelley; Assessor—J. S. Brown. 1852. Trustees—Jimsey Hutchison, James Crosby, Jacob Halfhill; Clerk—A B. Robison ; Treasurer—Moses Kelley; Assessor—John S. Brown. 1853. Trustees—Jimsey Hutchison, John S. Brown, Andrew Knox; Clerk— A. B. Robison; Treasurer—Moses Kelley; Assessor—David Thompson. 1854. Trustees—Thomas McCaughey, Andrew Knox, John Crosby; Clerk— B. C. McClellan; Treasurer—John Lindsey; Assessor—Adam Reaser. 1855. Trustees—J. B. Crosby, Thomas H. McCaughey, C. R. Strauss; Clerk— William Clark; Treasurer—Andrew Knox: Assessor—Adam Reaser. 1856. Trustees—C. R. Strauss, John B. Crosby, William Johnston ; Clerk— Henry C. Ober; Treasurer—Andrew Knox; Assessor—Thomas McCaughey. 1857. Trustees—William W. Johnston, John B. Crosby, A. B. Cosper ; Clerk —H. C. Ober ; Treasurer—Andrew Knox ; Assessor—John Smedley. 1858. Trustees—Robert Hacket, A. B. Cosper, Jones Thompson ; Clerk—H. C. Ober ; Treasurer—Andrew Knox ; Assessor—Hugh Truesdale. 1859; Trustees—Robert Hacket, John Rogers, Isaiah Rayl ; Clerk—John H. Gregor ; Treasurer—Samuel Searight ; Assessor—Hugh Truesdale. 1860. Trustees—John Rogers, Robert Cunningham, T. R. Goodin ; Clerk— William Guthrie; Treasurer—Samuel Searight ; Assessor—Andrew Watson. 1861. Trustees—Robert Cunningham, Thomas Dunham, David Truesdale; Clerk—William Guthrie; Treasurer—Samuel Searight ; Assessor—John H. Foultz. 1862. Trustees—T. R. Goodin, Thomas Dunham, D. P. Truesdale ; Clerk— J. H. Gregor; Treasurer—Samuel Searight; Assessor—John H. Fouts. 1863. Trustees—D. P. Truesdale, John Stauffer, James Spencer; Clerk—J. B. Koch; Treasurer—John Wilson; Assessor—A. J. Reider. SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP - 763 1864. Trustees—John Stauffer, Eugene Grossjean, William Moore; Clerk— J. B. Koch; Treasurer—John Wilson; Assessor—Johnson Brown. 1865. Trustees—Eugene Groesjean, Michael Steel, Albert Sweeney; Clerk— J. B. Koch; Treasurer—William Coulter ; Assessor—Peter Franks. 1866. Trustees—M. H. Steel, Eugene Groesjean, Alfred Sweeney ; Clerk—J. B. Koch; Treasurer—Wm. Coulter ; Assessor—John H. Fouts. 1867. Trustees—M. H. Steel, Frederick Brown, William Scott ; Clerk—J. B. Koch ; Treasurer—T. C. Franks ; Assessor—John Stauffer, Jr. 1868. Trustees—William Scott, George Moore, John Orr ; Clerk—M. H. Steel ; Treasurer—T. C. Franks ; Assessor—John Stauffer. 1869. Trustees—George Moore, John Orr, James Criswell; Clerk—P. F. Gerard ; Treasurer—S. C. Franks ; Assessor—William B. Johnson. 1870. Trustees—George Moore, John Orr, James Criswell; Clerk—P. F. Gerard; Treasurer—Eugene Grosjean ; Assessor—Eugene Wisard. 1871. Trustees—George Moore, James Criswell, John Orr ; Clerk—Peter Gerard; Treasurer—Eugene Grosjean ; Assessor—C. A. Reider. 1872. Trustees—George Moore, James Criswell, Eli S. Barnes ; Clerk—Peter Gerard ; Treasurer—Eugene Grosjean ; Assessor—John Fouts. 1873. Trustees—George Moore, William Coulter, John Flory ; Clerk—Peter Gerard ; Treasurer—Eugene Grosjean ; Assessor—John Fouts. 1874. Trustees—William Coulter, John Flory, Brown ; Clerk—Peter Gerard ; Treasurer—Eugene Grosjean ; Assessor—John Fouts. 1875. Trustees—William B. Moore, Johnson Brown, John Flory ; Clerk— Peter Gerard ; Treasurer—Henry Goudy; Assessor—John H. Fouts. 1876. Trustees—William Moore, Johnson Brown, George Shambard; Clerk— Peter Gerard ; Treasurer—David Simon ; Assessor—Eugene Grosjean. 1877. Trustees—John B. Armstrong, J. B. Crosby, J. W. Johnson ; Clerk— Edward Amiet ; Treasurer—David Simon ; Assessor—C. A. Scott. Justices of the Peace.—Samuel L. Lorah, October 26, 1833; James McFadden, October 26, 1833 ; James McFadden, December 31, 1836 ; Jesse B. Ramsey, November 17, 1837; James McFadden, October 24, 1839 ; J. B. ,Ramsey, November 23, 1840 ; B. F. Barns, December 10, 1841 ; James Hoge, October 21, 1842; B. F. Barns, November 19, 1844; James Hoge, October 23, 1845 ; Thomas Moor, November 13, 1847 ; Adam Reaser, October 21, 1848 ; William Peppard, October 19, 1850; Adam Reaser, December 9, 1851 ; Anthony B. Robison, October 27, 1853; D. Thompson, October 21, 1854; S. Johnson, November 12, 1856 ; R. R. Gailey, April 22, 1857; S. Johnson, October 20, 1859; Robert Hacket, April 17, 1860; S. D. Miller, April 17, 1863 ; Daniel Reider, April 17, 1863 ; David Thompson, November 17, 1864; H. C. Ober, October 15, 1867; John Brownfield, April 13, 1869 ; Daniel Reider, April 13, 1869; John Ruch, April 9, 1872; John Brownfield, April 9, 1872 ; John Stauffer, October 22, 1873 ; Ezra Dunham, October 20, 1874 William Coulter, April 12, 1875; Arthur Anderson, April 12, 1877. William Searight was born October 17, 1779, in Cumberland county, Pa. His father was a native of Ireland, immigrated to America about 1760, settling in Carlisle, Pa., and served seven years in the Revolutionary war. William married Jane Johnson, of Shippensburg, Pa., July 3, 1787, and in the spring of 1811 immigrated to Wayne county with his wife and two children, Ann 764 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. and Jane, coming by way of Pittsburg, Marietta, the Muskingum, and then to Coshocton, and then on to his own place, which he had selected the year before (1810), building his cabin on the banks of Salt creek, facing the " Pine Hill." He was then the only man and his the only family in Saltcreek township, and was truly " monarch of all he surveyed." Here he had entered 460 acres of land. His nearest neighbors lived in what is now Prairie township, Holmes county, and were John Martin, Hugh McCollough, John Castor and his sons. Henry Barnes, father of Peter Barnes, was the first settler to join him in Saltcreek township, and he came just after the war of 1812. After the news of Hull's Surrender, Mr. Searight and family fled for safety to the block-house, four and a half miles distant, built in Prairie township, Holmes county, on the farm now owned by Benjamin Dawson, where, assembled for a time, the Castors, Martins, McColloughs and Dawsons. The Indians were friendly. Old Chief Lyon, about this time, visited the Searights, and told Mrs. Searight that he had cut out the tongues of ninety-nine women, and wanted hers to make the even one hundred. William Searight died July 16, 1846, and his wife followed him in February, 1848. They had ten children, as follows : Ann, Francis G., Elizabeth, Jane, Ezzelar, Samuel, Gilbert, Elizabeth G., George W. and H. S. Fredericksburg was laid out by Jacob Frederick, November 27, 1824, the plat and certificate recorded two days thereafter, and found on page 450, volume 3, County Recorder's office. It was named in honor of its founder, who served as one of the Associate Judges of Wayne county as early as 1826. Recollections of Joseph Miller.—William Searight built the first saw-mill erected on Salt creek, four rods above the residence of Gilbert Searight, in 1813. Judge Frederick built the next one in 1816-17. The Searight mill burned down, and John Cheyney and Samuel Miller rebuilt another in 1820 for saw-mill uses. Frederick's second mill was built in 1836, and had a capacity of zoo barrels per day. Joseph Firestone, John Miller and Jacob Frederick ran it in its more prosperous days. It was destroyed by fire in 1876. James Russell, a blacksmith, built the first house in the town where the stone corner now stands. The first house kept for a hotel was built by Samuel Miller, and stood on the north half of the AEtna property, it being conducted by Samuel, the father of Joseph Miller. Cornelius Dorling and Mr. Frederick kept the first store in the old still-house. The first school-house built in Saltcreek township was on Jacob Beerbower's farm, now owned by John Grossjean, and Aaron Thompson was among the first teachers. The first school-house built in Fredericksburg was in 1828, where Andrew Knox's blacksmith shop stands, and the first teacher was John C. Taylor, although C. P. SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP - 765 Tennant had taught select school twelve years prior to this. The Presbyterians built the first church. Frederick had the first distillery, and, it is said, at the time of the building of the Ohio Canal, there were eight distilleries within two miles of the village. The first doctor was James Clarkson, of Washington county, Pa., who came in 1827, and died in 1846. James Taylor was the first lawyer. The first Postmaster was Samuel Miller, appointed in 1827, holding it II years ; he was succeeded by J. J. Deitrich, W. C. Ream, James Hoag, Amos Cosper and Daniel Cosper, the present incumbent. On George Brown's place parties bored for salt to the depth of 35o feet, but it did not pay. Samuel Goodwin, who lived on the farm where William Moore now lives, said that buffalo, elk and deer would haunt these salt licks, John Harrison and Miss Miller were the first couple married in Fredericksburg, and by Rev. A. Hanna. My father, Samuel Miller, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1787, and removed to Wayne county in 1819, settling in Franklin, but in 1826 removing to Saltcreek. He died December 18, 1862, his wife dying February 3, 1876. He was a tradesman and hotel-keeper. W. T. Barnes, M. D., was born November 10, 1843, and worked on the farm till he was seventeen, when he entered the army, enlisting as a private in the 51st Ohio Regiment, Stanley Matthews, Colonel. After his return from the army he attended school at Lexington, Richland county, Ohio, and in 1866 began studying medicine with John Russell, M. D., of Mt. Vernon, graduating from Charity Hospital Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, in the spring of 1869, and in 1870 began the practice in Fredericksburg, where he is at present located. He was married to Almeda Greer, of Knox county, Ohio, August 24, 1869. Daniel Rieder, Jr., was born October 24, 1815, in York county, Pa. He is a son of Daniel Rieder, of the same State and county, who immigrated to Wayne county in 1816, settling first in Paint township, and in about 1833 removing to Saltcreek. His son, Daniel, was married to Sarah A. Mowrey, and has had sixteen children, ten of whom are living. He has served as Justice of the Peace of Saltcreek township nine years, and with John Mackey laid out the town of Maysville. J. B. Koch, of Wooster, had started a store there before the village was laid out. His son, Cyrus Rieder, is practicing law in Wooster. Thomas Armstrong, was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in the province of Ulster, and immigrated to America, landing at New York May 17, 1804. He removed to Saltcreek township April 5, 1816, the same year being married to Nancy Dunlevy, of Washington county, Pa., and had thirteen children. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in October, 1824. He was 766 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. twice elected Justice of the Peace-in 1826 and 1830. Mr. Arm_ strong was educated in Ireland. John D. Armstrong, at our request, kindly furnished us with these facts. John Mackey was born in Saltcreek township, in 1824. He was raised on the farm with his father, who came to the township in 1816; was married to Elizabeth Cunningham in 1845. He had three children, to wit: Albert, Mary J. and John. He met death by accident in a saw-mill, at Maysville, being hurt October i t, 1850, and dying six days thereafter. His son, Albert Mackey, was elected Justice in 1876, of Saltcreek township, and in 1874 was chosen Surveyor of Wayne county, but declined to serve. He spent over a year in the employ of the Government, under General J. S. Ingalls, aiding in the survey of Oregon and California lands. Parmenas Appleman was born in Washington county, Pa., December 20, 1804, and came to Wayne county with his father, Jacob, in 1819, who was a native of New Jersey, and married to a sister of Hon. John Harris, of Canton. He removed to Saltcreek township in the spring of 1827, and settled half a mile south of Maysville. He was married April 5, 1827, to Mary Rodgers, and has had the following children : William, John, James, Parmenas, Thomas, Harris, Samuel, Nancy, Jane, Eliza. His wife died in 1847, and he was again married in 1854, to Martha Kilgore, Miss Eliza E. Appleman being the only child of this marriage. Both as farmer and merchant Mr. Appleman has made his life a success. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Rev. Samuel Irvine, D. D., was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 25, 1787, his parents immigrating to America June 25, 1788, two years thereafter settling in Huntington county, Pa. He labored on the farm until 1810, when he entered college. In 1815 he attended the theological seminary at Servia, Pa., where he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in 1819. In 1820 he came to Wooster, and received a call from the congregations of Saltcreek, Wooster, Newman's creek and Mohican, which he accepted, and was ordained at the Court House, in Wooster, March, 1821. He finally relinquished the two latter charges, retaining Wooster and Saltcreek until 1835, when lie resigned the former and went to Millersburg, retaining his relation with the Saltcreek church until his death, April 28, 1861. He was married January 22, 1822, to Maria Glasgow, of Beaver, county, Pa., who, SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP - 767 with three sons and four daughters, survived him. His second son, S. P. Irvine, became a minister. His first Elder in Wooster was John McClellan, Sr.; in Mohican, Nathaniel Paxton ; in New-man's Creek, Colonel McDowell ; in Saltcreek, William Trusdale. He had charge of the first select school ever opened in Wooster, and taught upon the premises where E. Quinby, Jr., resides. United Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg.-This congregation, prior to 1858, was called the Associate Presbyterian, or Seceder. Some of the first Associate families were John Sorrel and George Miller, who settled in the neighborhood in 1812 or 1813; William Truesdale, John Lytle and Henry Caldwell in 1815, and James Truesdale in 1817, and Samuel Miller, David Knox and George Boon. Some of the first ministers who supplied these people with preaching were Revs. John Walker, W. M. Wilson and James Ramsey, D. D. The congregation was organized by Rev. William Wilson in 1818, with Messrs. John Sorrel, George Miller and William Truesdale as Elders. The organization was effected and the Elders elected in the house of Mr. Robert Knox. The first house of worship was built of logs, commonly called a log house, and stood near the old Associate burying-ground on the hill, south of where Mr. Smith Peppard now lives. This was commenced soon after the organization of the congregation. In 1820 Rev. Samuel Irvine, D. D., was called to take charge of the congregation, and in March, 1821, he was ordained and installed pastor of this and three other congregations. For quite a number of years he ministered to this, in connection with other congregations in the neighborhood. But the last few years of his life were devoted to this congregation exclusively. By his death the congregation was left without a pastor in the spring of 1861, and continued so, being ministered to by a large number of men until 1866. In 1866 Rev. T. J. Kennedy was called from Jamestown, Pa., and took charge of the congregation ; continued in charge until the fall of 1869, when he was released. In July, 1870, a call was made for R. R. Atchison, who entered upon his duties as pastor the following January, and still continues in charge. The congregation now worship in a brick church in the south-western part of the town, which was built in 1838. Present officers : Elders-Messrs. Thomas Smith, Joseph McElroy, Francis B. Lytle, James Kerr, Thomas McCaughey, Arthur Anderson and Samuel McCoy. The first Melhodisl church in Fredericksburg was built in 1830, and stood south of town, where William Barnes now lives, and the first minister was Rev. H. 0. Sheldon. The second edifice was built in 1860. Some of the earlier of the members of this church were John Miller and family, David Griffith and family, Samuel Brown and family, Robert Armstrong, Sr., Robert Armstrong, Jr., J. R. Armstrong, Jacob Kiser (the singing shoemaker), Stinson McWilliams, Nancy Sefton and family, C. P. Tennant and family, R. S. McEwen and family. [ The sketch of the Presbyterian Church was unfortunately lost.] B. C. Smith was born in Paint township. His parents, Moses and Keziah Smith, were natives of Fayette county, Pa., his mother coming to Wayne county when a child with her parents, Bazaleel and Mary Tracy, in 1814, and his father in 1822, at the age of 24, and soon thereafter settled on the north-west quarter of Paint township. Here the subject of this sketch was born, and his 768 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. early life passed, After quitting district school he entered the Academy at Edinburg ; then studied in Vermillion Institute at Haysville, and after being a short time at Oberlin College, he established the Fredericksburg High School. In 1859 he was appointed a member of the County Board of School Examiners, a position he has continued to fill, with but little intermission, to the present time. Fredericksburg High School.—This was established in 1852, by Prof. B. C. Smith, commencing with forty pupils, and in a few years thereafter had won a wide and enviable reputation as an educational institution. The rolls show an attend. ance of from 150 to 175 for years. The martial excitement at the opening of the civil war had a depressing effect upon institutions of learning everywhere, and Prof. Smith chose to close his school for a time. In the fall of 1862 he re-opened the institution with 25 pupils, and although the war was fiercely raging, and terrifying drafts impending, in the years 1863 and 1864 the number of students increased to 60 and 80. But in the summer of 1866 Prof. Smith's health failed, and he was compelled to abandon his labors as teacher, since which time the Fredericksburg High School has been known more in name than in fact. His assistant, from 1856 to 1859, was Rev. S. McAnderson, of the Presbyterian church, who assumed the Professorship of Language and Moral Science. Prof. Smith's assistant teachers afterwards were young men who had been educated within the walls of the institution, and among these may be mentioned J. M. Huchison, S. D. Miller and P. F. Graham, all now clergymen, the first a Presbyterian, the others Methodist. Peter Franks, a native of Fayette county, Pa., was born May 21, 1797, and came to Wayne county August 7, 182o, although he had visited the county in 1816, and that year helped to raise a barn at Robert Hackett's. He remembers the names of those present at that raising, to wit: James and George Hackett, Basil and George Tracey, John Beerbower, Isaac Sowers, George, Solomon and Daniel Firestone, Thomas, William and James Johnson, John and George Brown, James Numbers, David Clark, George and Philip First, Job Lee, Dan Merriman, John S. and Robert Brown, Abner Geddis, Leonard Langell, John and Andrew Moore, and Peter Franks. Besides Mr. Franks, all are dead save Andrew Moore, George Hackett and Robert Brown. Mr. Franks was married September 5, 1819, in Fayette county, Pa., to Julia Fletcher, who died May 6, 1871. She was a member of the Methodist church. He has had nine children, viz : William, Sarah, Naomi, Jacob, Manoah, Thomas, Samantha, Solomon and Lemuel. The Fredericksburg Cemetery Association was organized November 16, 1872, as follows: Original members—John Richards, Andrew J. Knox, John Dobbins, SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP - 769 Noah Brown, William T. Barnes, James Martin, John S. , S. C. Franks, W. S. Peppard, Joshua Brother, George Gardner and Rev. W. J. Park. First Trustees—George Gardner, John Richards, Noah Brown, Wm. T. Barnes, W. S. Peppard; S. C. Franks, Clerk ; W. S. Peppard, Treasurer; James Martin, President. It embraces fifteen acres of land, on the hill east of town, purchased of V. Menuez. Margaret Cramer was the first person buried therein. Fredericksburg Lodge No. 391, 1. 0. 0. F.—Date of dispensation, July to, 1867. Charter members: N. J. Close, John Rechert, M. H. Steel, G. J. Rhodes, J. H. Vananda, E. H. Millhon. Present officers : C. N. Gastill, N. G. ; 0. J. Sea right, V. G.; S. S. Rutter, R. S.; A. C. Bayless, Permanent Secretary ; D. Swine- hart, Treasurer. Whole number initiated since organization, 78; present membership, 28. James Marlin, M. D., was born October 20, 1 8 24, on Martin's creek, on the old Edward Martin homestead. The subject of this notice remained upon the farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He attended the public schools about three months in the winter, until he was eighteen years of age, then the select schools at Fredericksburg for several years, when he began teaching school. He read medicine with T. B. Abbott, of Massillon, and during this time availed himself of a course of lectures then being given by William Bowen, of Akron, Ohio, subsequently graduating at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. He began the practice at East Rochester, Columbiana county, in August, 1850, remained there three years, when he removed to Fredericksburg in 1854, where he has since resided in the active pursuit of his profession. He was married Nov. 13, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Craig, of Columbiana county, Ohio, and by this union had seven children, only five of whom are living —O. E., Jessie F., Frank H., Mary J. and James S. Dr. Martin, wife and all his family are members of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Martin descends from an old and most worthy pioneer family of Ohio. He is a thorough gentleman, and one of the most popular and best educated physicians in the county. His abilities and skill have achieved for him an enlarged reputation and associated him with the foremost practitioners in his section of the country. He is a courteous, affable and estimable gentleman, and has reared an intelligent and worthy family, several of whom have attended the Wooster University, to which Dr, Martin largely contributed. Sinclair Johnson, son of James Johnson, was born February, 1824. Having obtained a good degree of common school educa- 49 770 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. tion, he commenced the work of life by teaching school when sevteen years of age. By studying during recesses of teaching, he completed his academical studies in 1849, at the Edinburg Academy, and entered the Junior Class at Jefferson College, Pa., where he graduated with marked honor in August, 1851. From that time he followed teaching until 1871, when he retired from that pursuit, and is now living at the old homestead, overseeing the work of the farm. William Peppard was born in New Jersey, and removed with his father, Jonathan Peppard, to Beaver county, Pa. He was married to Nancy Gaston, of Finleyville, Washington county, Pa. In 1823 he removed to Wayne county, Ohio, settling, upon his arrival, in Saltcreek township, two and one-half miles north of Fredericksburg, and in 1836 settling in the village. Here he remained until 1864, when, his wife dying in 1863, he made his home with his son, William S. Peppard. He had eight children, to wit : Samuel G., Elizabeth, Francis W., Hiram H., Margaret, William S., Mary and Amanda. Mr. Peppard was elected Justice of Saltcreek township several terms, and served in the Ohio Legislature from December 4, 1837, to December 2, 1839, having been re-elected in 1838. William S. Peppard, his son, was born in Saltcreek township March 24, 1829. His earlier years were spent in going to school and teaching, having attended the High School, under Rev. Edward Geary, brother of Governor Geary, of Pennsylvania. He has taught school for thirteen terms, and established a reputation for efficiency in the school-room and scholarship. He is now actively engaged in the practice of the law. His mind is of the cool, calculating and reticent order, and he is not inclined to unfold his purposes or meaning until the occasion suits him. He has an independent mind, a methodical brain, and transacts business carefully and cautiously. He was married July 23, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Giauque, a classmate at Vermillion Institute of the writer, a lady of culture and refinement, and an excellent scholar in both the French and English languages. They have five children, viz : Arbor V., Florena M., Maggie E., Evangeline and Florian G. Henry Barnes, a native of Maryland, immigrated to Wayne county in 1811, settling on the farm now owned by Gilbert Sea- SALTCREEK TOWNSHIP - 771 right. He died March 19, 1848. He had the following children : Peter, Catharine, Robert, Hugh, Boston F., Jesse, William, Lucinda acid William H., five of whom are living. Reminiscences of his Son, Peter Barnes.—I was born February 8, 1805, in Beaver county, Pa., and came to Wayne county with my father in 1811. I have been a farmer and school-teacher --taught my first school in 1826—had a good English education. I was married January 6, 1831, to Margaret Guthrie, and had seven children, viz : Joseph M., Henry C., Mary J., Eli S., Catharine, William G., and Maggie E. I am a member of the Presbyterian church. My impression is that James Sorrels, a native of Pennsylvania, was the first Justice of Saltcreek township, and that Richard Buckmaster was the second. The Buckmasters, Joseph, Wilson, Joshua, Richard and John, came to Saltcreek township in the fall of 1813. It was necessary in those days for some people to be whipped, and the Buckmasters could do it. Henry Buckmaster, M. D., was born in Saltcreek township, read medicine in Millersburg, became Probate Judge of Wayne county, went to Missouri and died there. William Truesdale came to the township in 1815. Mary, Hugh, James W., Mary, Jane, Phcebe, Elizabeth, John and David were his children. Caleb Brown, the Dunhams, Hatfields, Traceys, Johnstons, Thompsons, Hutchisons, Lytles, Caldwells, were early settlers. Eliza Searight was the first person who died in the present limits of Saltcreek township ; Sarah Willowby the first person who was buried in the Presbyterian graveyard, and John Hamilton and Margaret Castor the first couple married. |